With this comprehensive guide, discover all the facets of black pepper, from its origins and health benefits to creative ways to incorporate it into your everyday cooking.
Index
- Black pepper
- Properties of black pepper
- Stimulates metabolism and helps you lose weight
- Warnings and contraindications
- Uses of Black Pepper
- Phytotherapy and food supplements
- In the kitchen
- Black Pepper Essential Oil
- Insights and scientific studies
Black pepper
Black pepper, known as the “King of Spices” native to India, belongs to the Piperaceae family and is extracted from the pods of Piper nigrum. This spice, in addition to offering a distinctive touch in the kitchen, has health properties that go beyond its spicy flavor.
The pod is collected, cooked in water and dried in the sun. Depending on the degree of ripeness and processing we can obtain, in addition to black , green and white pepper . While pink pepper is obtained from another plant called Schinus Molle.
Properties of black pepper
Piperine, an alkaloid found in black pepper, gives this spice its distinctive flavor and provides important health benefits. In addition to stimulating digestion, black pepper has purifying, expectorant, and energizing properties. Piperine also promotes the absorption of vitamins and minerals, making black pepper a valuable ingredient in Ayurvedic Medicine.
Furthermore, piperine promotes the absorption of vitamins and mineral salts .
Pepper provides vitamin A, B vitamins and mineral salts including potassium , zinc, copper and selenium. It is known in Ayurvedic Medicine because together with Long Pepper and Ginger it becomes a remedy called “Trikatu” which has digestive, slimming properties, improves the absorption of nutrients, stimulates the appetite and rebalances the intestine.
Stimulates metabolism and helps you lose weight
Thanks to its metabolism-stimulating properties, black pepper is known for its contribution to weight loss. Its diuretic and purifying characteristics, combined with its expectorant, carminative and antiseptic properties, make it an ally in promoting general health.
Warnings and contraindications
It is important to consider the contraindications: black pepper is not recommended for children, pregnant women, people suffering from hypertension, hemorrhoids and digestive system diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis, ulcers, as it irritates the mucous membranes.
It is advisable to consult a doctor before including black pepper in your diet, especially if you are taking medications, as it can interfere with some of them.
Uses of Black Pepper
Phytotherapy and food supplements
Black pepper is often included in herbal preparations that take full advantage of its beneficial properties. According to Ayurveda, it can be used in capsules to disperse toxins and improve metabolism, in parallel it increases the Pitta dosha, the metabolic fire . The Indian tradition considers it part of the remedy “Trikatu” together with Long Pepper and Ginger.
In the kitchen
To keep the organoleptic and nutritional properties intact, it is advisable to grind the black peppercorns at the time of use. It can be used to season both savory and sweet dishes, first and second courses of meat or fish, and reveals a particular affinity with dark chocolate . The combination with other spices, such as turmeric, is recommended to maximize the nutritional benefits.
In fact, as a seasoning spice we also find it combined with other spices and aromatic herbs such as curry .
Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests it in the form of an infusion with warming, digestive and antibacterial properties.
Black Pepper Essential Oil
Black pepper essential oil can be used in purifying baths or toning massages, added to a base oil such as almond oil or jojoba. In the form of a compress it relieves pain.
Its presence can also be appreciated in spicy perfumes.
Black Peppercorns
Piper Black
Rock of Flowers
Insights and scientific studies
For a more in-depth understanding of the properties of black pepper, you can consult scientific studies such as those available on PubMed, which examine the pharmacological applications and physiological effects of this spice.
- PubMed, A Systematic Review on Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.): From Folk Uses to Pharmacological Applications
- PubMed, Black Pepper and Health Claims: A Comprehensive Treatise
- The Power of Spices – All the secrets of spices , Marco Ceriani, Tecniche Nuove
- PubMed, Black Pepper and Its Pungent Principle-Piperine: A Review of Diverse Physiological Effects